ODFEN 04

Chapter 4…

 Maker of Villains

Only then did I begin to understand what the robe worn by the knight in charge and the robe worn by the knight before me were. As in the original story, it was a robe designed to offset brute force and minimize physical impact.

As the knight lifted her into his arms, Rubellin began to tear up as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

“D-don’t! I don’t want to! I-I’m going with Mom!”

As Rubellin resisted, the knight staggered.

“Ugh! Your Highness! Please stay still!”

“No!”

Rubellin pushed hard against the knight’s shoulder with her arms.

“Aaah!”

The knight was instantly lifted off his feet and sent flying far into the distance. At the same time, Rubellin fell straight downward, face first.

“Ugh!”

“Your Highness!”

I shot up from the carriage.

“……”

An instant of chilling silence followed. No matter how great her strength, she was still a child. What if she got hurt?

However, my concern was unnecessary. Rubellin, who had landed with her rear sticking out, suddenly sprang up like a spring. Her eyes sparkled as she reached out both arms toward me, as if asking to be held.

“Mom!”

For a normal child, that kind of impact would have made them cry—but as expected of the steel princess with dragon’s blood, she was different.

Relieved, I looked around. All the knights, including the officer in charge, were swallowing dryly as they observed the situation.

So they’re afraid of being hugged.

Well, the knight who had been sent flying was unconscious with spiraled eyes—fear was understandable.

I let out a deep sigh.

Right. Even when Rubellin’s hand had touched my shoulder earlier, nothing had happened.

Steeling myself, I stepped down from the carriage.

I slowly approached Rubellin and carefully slipped my arms under her armpits.

Fine, whatever.

I closed my eyes tightly and lifted Rubellin up like pulling up a herb.

Then I awkwardly held her in my arms.

“Hah!”

Gasps could be heard from all around.

“To think someone could hold the princess without a force-nullifying robe.”

“Are they that tough?”

I slowly opened my eyes.

The head of the knights was staring at us in stunned silence.

“How…?”

In contrast, Rubellin had a bright smile and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Mom!”

She pressed her cheek against mine.

“Mom, I like you!”

Her soft cheek rubbed against my face. I looked at the arm wrapped around my neck.

I had been worried she might choke me, but it didn’t hurt at all.

At first, I thought it was just coincidence that her strength didn’t work on me—but maybe not.

There were other questions too.

In the original story, the princess—who was supposed to be forbidden from leaving the imperial palace—why was she in Heington Village?

While I was deep in thought, I noticed the knights and their commander, still dazed.

“Um…”

The commander snapped to his senses and barked at the knights.

“Disperse!”

“Yes, sir!”

The knights quickly composed themselves and lined up before leaving in haste. Only the commander remained.

He turned and stepped onto the stone stairs.

“This is the rear gate of the Imperial Palace. I will guide you to the office.”

I followed him up the stairs.

Clack, clack.

The sound of shoes striking cold marble echoed.

Passing through a long oval door, a corridor stretched endlessly before me—lavish and imposing.

“Mom!”

At some point, Rubellin had been rubbing her cheek against mine so much it was starting to sting.

After walking quite a while, the knight finally stopped in front of a massive oval door, towering several times higher than a person.

“Inform His Majesty. The princess has returned safely.”

The commander spoke to the guards stationed at the door.

They turned—and upon seeing me holding Rubellin, their eyes widened.

“What is this? Why wasn’t this reported?”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Startled, the knights opened the door and rushed inside.

Soon, the enormous door creaked open with a chilling sound.

I swallowed dryly and set the princess down.

“Mom?”

“Sorry, Your Highness. We’re about to meet His Majesty.”

What if he yelled, “Who are you to be holding the princess?” with that terrifying temperament?

No wonder the village chief had warned me.

I rubbed my arm and shivered slightly before looking straight ahead.

The door fully opened, revealing an elaborately decorated office filled with exquisite artifacts.

The commander walked ahead with long strides. As I followed him, I noticed someone standing quietly by the window with hands behind their back.

Just their presence alone carried an overwhelming, almost transcendent aura.

The man had jet-black hair, gleaming like a night sky filled with stars.

On his hand was a silver ring set with a finely crafted blue gem, along with a strange tattoo of intricate patterns.

Despite his imperial status, it strangely suited him.

At his feet, several people were prostrating themselves.

Judging by their pale faces and sweating brows, they were likely the princess’s attendants and tutor involved in this incident.

The commander stiffened upon seeing them and bowed.

“Your Majesty, Deputy Captain Ken of the Royal Guard. We have returned with the princess.”

A heavy silence fell.

I stood, looking only at the floor, then slowly stepped forward at the commander’s signal.

When I glanced back slightly, Rubellin was pressed against the door, clearly intimidated by the atmosphere.

I reached the commander, who had introduced himself as Ken, and awkwardly knelt in a bow.

“Your Majesty, I am the one who reported via communication device that I was with the princess.”

Ken reported, but the Emperor showed no reaction, continuing to gaze out the window as if uninterested.

I wanted to clear up the misunderstanding quickly and go home.

Biting my lip, I waited as my legs began to go numb.

After some time—

“Flowers are beautiful.”

The Emperor spoke in a low, emotionless voice.

It was deep, yet somehow languid.

One of the men wearing glasses glanced outside and smiled nervously.

“Y-yes, Your Majesty? The flowers in the garden are imported from a foreign—”

“Pity.”

“…Pardon?”

A cold tone followed.

“They should have been your heads falling instead of flower petals.”

Sharp intakes of breath echoed around the room.

A chill ran down my spine.

Am I going to die here without clearing the misunderstanding?

I had planned to repay my debts, save money, travel… eat good food… buy clothes…

Lost in such thoughts—

The Emperor turned.

His sharp gaze struck the crown of my head.

“Is this the one? The one who abducted my niece.”

“…Pardon?”

Abducted?

I raised my head in shock, meeting his eyes directly.

Jet-black hair like ink, and crimson eyes that pierced like blades.

Under the brilliant light, the strikingly handsome man seemed as though his entire body was outlined in gold thread.

I hadn’t known from the original description—he was truly a handsome man.

As I admired him in pure awe, the Emperor lazily blinked.

Only then did I snap back to reality, as if slapped.

Right. I’m in danger of dying.

I lowered my gaze again and glanced at the Emperor, trembling.

“….”

The Emperor stared at me silently, then slowly formed a strange expression.

“A hamster?”

“…Pardon?”

As I questioned him, he waved his hand dismissively.

“Throw her in the dungeon.”

Ken immediately bowed.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Your Majesty” my foot!

“Your Majesty, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I didn’t abduct the princess—I saved her.”

“A misunderstanding?”

The Emperor raised one eyebrow.

At least he seemed willing to listen.

He then lost interest and looked away.

“Then hear it in hell.”

So he wasn’t.

Ken grabbed one of my arms and tried to lift me.

I resisted with all my strength.

“It’s not me. I’m telling you, it’s not me!”

Ken whispered awkwardly.

“Stand up first. I’ll explain your value separately.”

My value?

As I stopped resisting and listened—

“No!”

Pink hair suddenly filled my vision like a curtain.

Rubellin stood in front of me with her arms spread wide, shielding me.

In contrast, her small body trembled like a leaf.

“D-don’t… she’s my mom…”

The Emperor frowned.

“Mom?”

Ken released my arm and bowed.

“Based on the princess’s behavior, she appears to be saying ‘mom.’”

I looked between Ken and Rubellin in shock.

“Mom” meant “mother”?

So that’s what she had been calling me.

Who would have guessed a child I just met would call me that?

The Emperor blinked slowly, gazing at Rubellin.

His calm eyes felt like the sea before a storm.

Ken swallowed nervously, clearly sharing my thoughts.

“Your parents are dead, Rubellin.”

“No.”

Rubellin shook her head, puffing out her cheeks.

The Emperor frowned, as if unable to understand her.

“This person is not your mother, and your parents are dead. Why can’t you understand?”

…She doesn’t refuse because she doesn’t understand—she refuses because she doesn’t want to accept it!

The Emperor seemed to think for a moment, his eyes drifting.

Then he spoke again.

“I see. The explanation was insufficient. Your parents died young. It was unavoidable due to their weakness.”

What kind of thing is that to say to a child?

Rubellin trembled, holding back her emotions.

“No… that’s not true…”

Her face turned red like an apple.

“No!”

Finally, she snapped.

She dashed toward the Emperor.

But before she could reach him—

She was repelled by an invisible barrier, sent flying into the corner.

The Emperor hadn’t moved a finger, but her ability had collided with his.

Crash.

She struck the marble wall and fell.

“Your Highness!”

“Good heavens!”

Everyone gasped.

The Emperor clicked his tongue.

Though I had read that she would become a villain, seeing it in person was completely different from reading it.

That child…

She struggled to stand.

Just as I instinctively tried to move toward her—

“Stop.”

A cold voice froze everyone in place.

The Emperor watched Rubellin with indifferent eyes.

“An imperial bloodline does not die so easily.”

Everyone else sighed, accepting her fate as a princess.

Unlike us, Rubellin stood up as if nothing had happened and glared at the Emperor.

“Mom, don’t bully her!”

Her voice rang loudly, no longer timid.

The Emperor looked slightly surprised.

As I looked back and forth between them, a thought about the Emperor surfaced in my mind.